Frank Capra

Frank Capra (1897–1991) was an Italian-born American film director and producer whose work helped define classic Hollywood cinema. Born in Bisacquino, Sicily, he emigrated to the United States as a child and later became a leading filmmaker at Columbia Pictures. Capra directed a string of influential, populist dramas and comedies, including *It Happened One Night* (1934), *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington* (1939), and *It’s a Wonderful Life* (1946). During World War II he served in the U.S. Army and worked on the documentary series *Why We Fight*. He received multiple Academy Awards for his directing.